Committed to provide free metro rides to women, CM reacts to Centre
New Delhi: Hours after the Centre said it has not received any proposal from the AAP dispensation, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday asserted that his government is committed to providing free rides to women in metro trains. Kejriwal while interacting with the media after meeting Union Finance Minister on Thursday said, "I, the Chief Minister of Delhi, assure the people of Delhi, the women of Delhi that the metro rides would be free for the women of the city. Have faith in your chief minister."
Replying to a question, the CM said, "All the proposals which were stuck got cleared. We got file of Mohalla Clinics cleared, CCTV cleared. We got all of them cleared." On another question related to the scheme of free metro travel for women, he said, "We don't need to send any proposal to the central government. Delhi government has decided to make metro travel for women free by giving subsidy for the same. We legally don't need to send proposal to the central government. We wrote to the DMRC to send a proposal to us. We in-principal agree to the proposal sent by the metro to us. Delhi metro is ready. We are also ready."
The CM also tweeted about it saying, "On our request, Del Metro has submitted its proposal. In-principle, their proposal is agreeable to us. However, Delhi govt is studying its details. I repeat that, as announced, Delhi govt is committed to provide free metro rides to women."
Earlier on Thursday, the Centre told Lok Sabha that it has not received any proposal on Delhi government's plans to provide a free ride for women commuters in Delhi Metro. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri informed about the position in a written reply to TMC's Saugata Roy in the Lok Sabha. Kejriwal's reiteration of his government stand came as a response to the Centre's reply in the lower House.
Delhi government recently announced its decision to give free travel to women passengers on metro and buses. Delhi government and the Centre have an equal partnership in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
